Leave and work rights in numbers
The leave the law gives every employee in New Zealand today, under the Holidays Act 2003, and what changes when the Employment Leave Act 2026 replaces it on 6 August 2028. An employment agreement can give more, never less.
Leave today
| Leave | What the law gives |
|---|---|
| Annual leave | 4 weeks on each anniversary, after 12 months |
| Sick leave | 10 days a year after 6 months, carried to at most 20, never paid out |
| Bereavement leave | 3 days immediate family, 1 day others, after 6 months |
| Family violence leave | Up to 10 days a year, after 6 months |
| Public holidays | Up to 12; time and a half plus an alternative day if an otherwise working day |
| Leaving before annual leave is due | 8% of gross earnings |
What changes on 6 August 2028
Second anniversary of Royal assent (6 August 2026), clause 2(1). Annual leave then accrues 0.0769 hours per standard hour, sick leave 0.0385 to a 160-hour cap, bereavement and family violence leave from day one, 12.5% leave compensation payment on casual and additional hours, up to 25% of annual leave may be cashed up a year, and existing balances convert to hours.
Source: Employment New Zealand; Employment Leave Bill as reported (discovery/official acts/). Checked 24 September 2026. Next update 1 July 2027.
Cite this
Employment New Zealand; Employment Leave Bill as reported (discovery/official acts/), checked 24 September 2026. Via jobtracker.co.nz/stats/leave.
Jobseeker Support, a week
| Before tax | In your hand | |
|---|---|---|
| single 25+ | $426.12 | $372.55 |
| single 20 to 24 | $367.88 | $324.50 |
| single 18 to 19, living with parents | $309.65 | $276.46 |
| sole parent | $606.69 | $521.52 |
| couple total, no children | $717.50 | $633.94 |
| couple total, with children | $760.48 | $669.40 |
| Income you can earn before abatement | $160 a week before tax | |
Source: Work and Income. Checked 10 September 2026. Next update 1 April 2027.
Cite this
Work and Income, checked 10 September 2026. Via jobtracker.co.nz/stats/leave.
What these mean for you: Leave entitlements in New Zealand and job hunting on Jobseeker Support. Your own leave balance, counted forward from your payslip, is in Your Career.